Cotchery has 437 career receptions in 10 seasons with the New York Jets and Steelers. That's 434 more catches than the receivers previously under contract with the Panthers. Cotchery led the Steelers in touchdown catches in 2013 with 10.

There was much consternation about the state of the Panthers' receivers corps in the Tar Heel State since free agency began.

Cotchery is better suited as a No. 3 receiver at this stage of his career, and general manager Dave Gettleman will still need to upgrade the pass-catching unit via a deep 2014 NFL Draft or perhaps a trade.